Alternative to False Teeth?

Periodontal disease, the bacteria-related deterioration of the gum and bone tissue that holds the tooth's root in place, is an almost universal ailment. At least 85% of all people over 40 suffer from it to some extent, and it is the chief reason why adults lose teeth. Dentists routinely treat serious cases with "resective therapy"--removing diseased tissues and sometimes putting in dentures. An occasional alternative involves root-canal work. Now three Denver dentists are offering some patients a third choice. In experimental operations, they have been tapping their patients' hips for marrow to save their teeth.

Dentists have long attempted to correct some conditions by bridging sections of jawbone with particles of bone from other parts of the body. But the aim of the Denver trio--Drs. William Hiatt, Robert Schallhorn and William Boyce--is to regenerate bone rather than replace it. They graft marrow around the tooth to encourage new growth in the bone surrounding it.

Complex Preparation. The operation itself is relatively easy. Patients report to the hospital in the morning to donate their own bone marrow. Under local anesthesia the marrow is taken from the hip through a hollow needle. Later the same day they go to the dentist's office, where the marrow is implanted. The procedure, which involves laying back the gum and cleaning the lesion around the tooth before filling it with bone marrow, rarely takes more than half an hour.

Preparing for the operation, however, can be complex. One of the important causes of periodontal disease is the buildup of invisible bacteria plaque on the teeth. This must be under control before the implantation takes place. Otherwise the new bone marrow can quickly become infected. Therefore patients must learn how to clean and take care of their mouths before they undergo marrow grafting. This process includes adjustment of the bite, a special schedule of antibiotics, thorough cleaning and lessons in proper toothbrushing techniques. According to Schallhorn, one man underwent nearly five years of preparatory treatment before he finally "got religion" and started following dentist's orders.

Encouraging Results. Many dentists are skeptical about the new technique, and no member of the Denver team is willing to claim that the operation is always successful. But in carefully selected patients who remain faithful and skillful with the toothbrush, the results of the operation are encouraging. Of 182 implants performed on 52 people over a five-year period, 104 produced new bone up to 4 mm. (one-sixth of an inch) high. One resulted in a gain that can only be called spectacular. Before the operation, a 40-year-old housewife had infection and serious bone loss. Within a year her bone had regenerated to a normal contour.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.